PNG quiet over expat lead on Manus murder

David Wroe, Sarah Whyte

The Australian Federal Police say they've received no request from their Papua New Guinean counterparts to trace or interview expatriate suspects in the murder of Iranian asylum-seeker Reza Barati on Manus Island.

Despite statements from PNG police that they are pursuing two expatriate former security guards - believed to be Australians - in connection with the murder, they appear to have made no efforts to track the suspects in Australia.

''The AFP did not receive a request for assistance from the [Royal Papua New Guinean Constabulary] concerning the two identified suspects,'' an AFP spokeswoman said.

She added that the AFP ''continues to maintain a co-operative relationship with'' PNG counterparts but said the ''arrest of the two identified suspects continues to remain a matter for the RPNGC''.

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The PNG police announced on Tuesday that they had arrested two suspects and planned to lay murder charges over the killing of Mr Barati, an asylum seeker who suffered massive head injuries during violent clashes at the centre in February.

Deputy Commissioner Jim Andrews has said that police are seeking three additional suspects including two expatriates.

Fairfax Media revealed in March that two of the suspects in the killings were expatriates whom police sources said at the time had returned to Australia.